Page 25 of Griffin (Stone Brothers #5)

TWENTY-THREE

GRIFFIN

T heo hobbled into the kitchen in socks. He'd been off his foot all week. The swelling had gone way down, but he was still limping badly.

I dug my fork into the frozen dinner. "Thought you were supposed to use crutches to keep your weight entirely off it."

Theo yanked out a chair and plopped down hard.

He leaned forward and placed his forearms on the table.

"Well, Nurse Griffin, those crutches are fucking torture devices.

" He lifted one palm to show a blister. "They can replace just about every joint in the body with plastic and titanium, but no one in the whole big science and medical community has ever found a way to make crutches easier.

Those damn things still look like the same ones little Timmy was using in A Christmas Carol. "

I blinked at him as I finished a bite of the mashed potatoes that tasted nothing like potato. "Sorry I asked."

"So, Cru, Mac and I decided you've been moping around long enough. I don't know exactly what it is that has your balls in a twist, though I'm sure it has to do with Shay. Not going to ask cuz it's none of my business."

I poured salt onto my food to see if I could boost the flavor. "Glad we're straight on that."

"We're going to the Lazy Daze tonight. It's Friday and Amy's hired a good band. Forgot their name, but LaLa said they're great."

I glanced down toward his foot. "You gonna tear up the dance floor?"

"Yep, and I'll use those crutches to keep people out of my way." He mimicked swinging around a crutch.

"How the hell do you have money for beer? You just used up half your sick leave with that bum ankle."

Theo sank back. "Well, that was a big fucking bah humbug. Thanks for reminding me I just used half my sick leave."

I shrugged. "It's what I'm here for—handing out bah-humbug nuggets. At least the sprained ankle has let you forget about your other woes for now."

"Don't know what the hell you're talking about.

" Theo hopped up so clumsily, the table moved.

I had to pull it back toward me, so I could reach my food.

Theo limped over to the refrigerator, and as his arm swung to propel him forward, his hand slapped a dirty glass onto the floor. It shattered into a hundred pieces.

"I can get you something. Come sit back down before you bring the whole fucking place down around us. And walk that way." I motioned away from the pile of glass. "You're just wearing socks."

"My god, you really are like a mother hen lately." Theo turned on one foot and limped back to the table. "Ouch, fuck. Just stepped on a glass shard." He plunked down hard enough at the table to make the chair creak. He held up his foot. The bottom of the sock was black with dirt. "Can you see it?"

"If you think I'm going anywhere near that sock, you're out of your mind." I got up to grab a broom and dustpan. I swept up the shards while Theo removed the sock and the glass from his foot.

"This is definitely not going to help my dance moves tonight," Theo said glumly. "Hey, get me a beer from the fridge while you're up."

I finished picking up the glass and pulled out two beers. Theo sighed dejectedly as I handed him the beer.

"What the fuck am I doing?" he asked. "Nothing in my life is going the way I planned. By now I should have been in a nice house by the beach with one room filled with trophies and a bank account flush from product endorsements and …" He stopped.

"And married to Lacey," I finished for him.

Theo rubbed his hands over his face and then raked back his hair.

"There just isn't anyone else in the world for me.

I've dated so many women since she left, and every time I'm with someone else, I'm either comparing them to Lacey and finding their faults because of it, or I'm wishing that they were Lacey.

Guess I'm heading to a monastery after I burn out on the mountain bike circuit.

I think that's what it's called. Is that the place where those guys with the funny bowl cuts walk around in brown robes mumbling religious stuff? "

I ignored his last question. "Seems to me if she's getting married, you've got to let it go. Let her go, bro. You'll find someone else."

Theo leaned back and laughed. "That's fucking rich coming from the guy who's been moping around here all week like a little kid whose bike got stolen because he's fallen heavy and hard for—wait for it—a married chick."

"That's different. Her marriage is shit. And I haven't been moping."

"Oh, trust me, buddy, you've been moping.

You've been dragging your sorry ass around this house wearing a big old frown, and you're fucking grumpy too.

A double whammy—a grumpy mope. But hey, I know how you feel.

Of course, you only just met Shay, and I've known Lacey since third grade.

Think I've been in love with her since then.

" Theo gulped some beer and smacked the can down hard.

"What a couple of losers, eh? Who'd have thought two women could bring down a couple of Stones?

" He leaned forward. "What's going on with Shay? "

"Nothing. We both see each other at work, and all I can do is grit my teeth to keep from touching her or pulling her into my arms, but this was what she wanted.

She's got a big mess to deal with. The asshole isn't home right now, but when he gets back, she's going to tell him it's over.

I'm just worried that—I mean the guy is a total fuckface.

She wants to do this alone, but it's fucking hard to stay out on the sidelines and wait to see what happens. "

"That would be hard. Do you think she's in danger?"

I chugged back some beer. "Let's put it this way, Dad and I met him. He was in the trailer for maybe sixty seconds, and by the time he walked out with Shay, Dad and I were both ready to throw our fists into something. Namely, his face."

"Well, I pity the fool if he tries to hurt Shay. Here's to the asshole experiencing life on the other end of a Stone fist," Theo said. He lifted his can, and we smacked them together. "Now, what about a night out? At least come and eat some nachos. Mac will be there too."

"Yeah, I guess I could go for some nachos. There's not enough salt in the world to make this frozen dinner edible, and hanging out with you assholes is probably better than staring at some stupid shit on television." I got up and dumped my food in the trash.

"That's the spirit," Theo said. "I think. Hey, did you just call us all assholes?"

"Yeah, but you guys are the good kind of assholes."

"Right. Good to know."